Glossary

• Abduction — the outward movement of a limb away from the body
• Abnormal Gait — deviation from normal walking.
• Absence Seizures — sudden brief loss of consciousness with rapid recovery. They are usually associated with staring and repetitive eye blinking. Also known as petit mal seizures.
• Accessibility — the degree to which a product, device, service, or environment is available to as many people as possible.
• Accommodations — removing obstacles that impede accessibility, thereby helping a person with disabilities function and participate in a typical environment.
• Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum — a birth defect with partial/complete absence of the corpus callosum.
• Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) — the use of non-verbal techniques to communicate. Can include sign language, gestures, pictures, or a computerized device.
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — a federal law that prohibits discrimination of the disabled by employers, public accommodations, public and private services, and in telecommunications. Failure to make reasonable accommodations is considered discrimination.
• Adaptive Behavior — the ability to adjust to new situations, tasks, environments, people, and objects. Also to learn new adaptive skills and apply them to other situations.
• Adaptive equipment — physical props or supports to aid those with special needs (i.e. corner chair, prone board, etc).
• Adduction — the inward movement of a limb towards the body.
• Advocacy — speaking on behalf of a person, cause, or group to support or promote their actions.
• AFO (Ankle Foot Orthoses) — A partial leg brace made of lightweight plastic that controls the foot and ankle and ends at the calf.
• Ambulatory — the ability to walk.
• Anomaly — departure from what is considered typical.
• Anticonvulsant (or Antiepileptic Drug AED) — A drug used to control seizures
• Anoxia — the acute stage of asphyxia, or the complete lack of oxygen to vital organs and/or tissue. Anoxia may cause the heart to stop beating, the lungs to stop working, as well as cell death, hemorrhages, or strokes in the brain.
• Apgar Score— when a child is born, a physician will take note of his or her activity or muscle tone, pulse, grimace or reflex irritability, appearance or skin color, and respiration. These observations are made immediately following birth and five minutes later. A score of zero to ten is then calculated. A low score alerts a doctor that resuscitation may be necessary and a high score reassures a doctor that the baby is healthy. Children with cerebral palsy often receive low Apgar scores.
• Aqua Therapy — a therapeutic procedure that attempts to improve function through the application of aquatic therapeutic exercises.
• Articulation — the ability to move and control all parts of the mouth to make the sounds of a language.
• Asphyxia — a lack of (or cutting off) of oxygen, leading to organ distress and/or failure. Birth asphyxia is commonly caused by constriction of the child’s neck or umbilical cord.
• Aspirate — to suck or draw in food or liquids into the lungs by inhaling. Children with CP often swallow improperly while drinking and getting a small portion in the lungs. Drinking through a straw helps prevent aspiration, as does thickening the liquid or limiting the amount of each sip or bite.
• Aspiration — the entry of foreign material (such as solids and liquids) into the airway and lungs of a newborn child. This leads to choking and respiratory distress as the child begins breathing on their own. If not mitigated, aspiration may lead to respiratory failure, loss of consciousness, or even brain damage.
• Assessment — or evaluation — the process of determining a person’s developmental strengths and weaknesses by observation and testing by a team of professionals and parents.
• Assistive Technology — includes items, equipment, or products that help to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a disabled individual. Common assistive devices include wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, prosthetic limbs, orthotic devices, scooters, and canes, as well as devices such as hearing aids, computers used for communication, and more.
• Astigmatism — blurry vision due to either the irregular shape of the cornea, the clear front cover of the eye, or sometimes the curvature of the lens inside the eye.
• Asymmetrical — lacking symmetry, i.e. when one side of the body is different from the other.
• ATA-Assistive Technology Act — An act that seeks to provide assistive technology to persons with disabilities so they can more fully participate in education, employment, and daily activities on a level playing field with other members of their communities.
• Ataxia — the lack of coordination with regard to body movements. Individuals with ataxic cerebral palsy may find it hard to walk properly or at a correct rhythm, as well as coordinate limb movement.
• Ataxic — unbalanced gait due to damage in the cerebellum.
• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy— Ataxic cerebral palsy is characterized by a weakness in the muscles and wobbly, shaky movements. People who have ataxic cerebral palsy will often have a difficult time balancing and will exhibit poor depth perception.
• Athetoid — uncontrolled writhing, Parkinsonian movements.
• Athetoid Cerebral Palsy— A type of cerebral palsy in which the patient has difficulty controlling movement. Athetoid cerebral palsy patients may move involuntarily and will often squirm and twist when they feel emotional distress.
• Atonic — lack of normal muscle tissue.
• Atrophy — to deteriorate or progressively weaken, refers to muscle tissue in children with CP.
• Auditory processing — the ability to understand individual speech sounds quickly enough to comprehend the meaning of what is being spoken.
• Augmentative communication — see AAC.
• Aura — a feeling or behavior that often precedes a seizure.
• Baclofen — This is a medication that is used in the treatment of spastic cerebral palsy, which is characterized by stiff and uncontrollable muscle tone. It is a central nervous system depressant and can help relax muscles as well as ease pain and inflammation. It must be prescribed with care (usually through the use of ) due to its propensity to cause respiratory distress.
• Baclofen Pills — a drug used to treat spasticity
• Ballerina Syndrome — a condition describing children who primarily walk on the tips of their toes. Ballerine syndrome often stems from habits a child developed in-utero that limit a child’s use of their Achilles tendon.
• Benzodiazepines — a class of medications that are used in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, as well as the inability to relax. They are thought to be addictive, so doctors are encouraged to prescribe them prudently to people with cerebral palsy given the lifelong nature of this condition.
• Bilateral — relating to both sides of the body.
• Bone Scan — a nuclear scanning test to find certain abnormalities in bone
• Botox — a medication made from the botulism toxin that is injected into stiff muscle groups to reduce stiffness
• Botulinum Toxin (BOTOX) — BOTOX is a toxic byproduct produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. While toxic, it can be used to help improve muscle tone in children with certain types of cerebral palsy. It may be used to ease the symptoms of blepharospasm or uncontrollable blinking, align misaligned eyes, relieve migraines, bring back some sense of control to a person’s shoulder and neck movements, as well as help with an overactive bladder.
• Brain Damage— During pregnancy or birth, brain damage to a child may cause cerebral palsy. The following problems may result in brain damage— Rh incompatibility, a lack of oxygen to the baby, a mother’s urinary tract infection, bleeding within the infant’s brain, or poisoning due to the mother’s use of alcohol or drugs.
• Brain Plasticity — see Neuroplasticity.
• Brain Stem — small portion of the brain located between the cerebellum and the spinal cord.
• Breech Birth — a type of delivery where the baby is born presenting bottom (or feet) first, rather than the head. This usually affects anywhere from 3-5 percent of all pregnancies. A breech birth is considered potentially dangerous because there is an increased risk for the occurrence of fetal distress, asphyxiation, and umbilical cord prolapse.
• Case Manager — the person responsible for coordinating services and information from a multidisciplinary team.
• Central nervous system — the brain and spinal cord. It mainly controls voluntary movement and thought processes.
• Cephalopelvic Disproportion — This is a term used to refer to childbirth where the baby’s head is too large to safely pass through the mother’s pelvis. This condition generally always necessitates a cesarean section delivery in order to avoid serious injuries.
• Cerebral — relating to the brain.
• Cerebral Palsy — a general term for a group of permanent brain injuries that affect an infant in the womb, during birth, or in the months following birth. Cerebral palsy patients may have limited motor skills, speech difficulties, learning disabilities, or other problems.
• Cerebrum — also referred to as the endbrain. Contains the cerebral cortex, which controls the central nervous system and a person’s senses, language ability, short-term memory, movement, and personality. Not to be confused with the cerebellum, which controls a person’s balance.
• Cerebellum — lower smaller portion of the brain that coordinates balance and muscle activity.
• Chorea — a series of unpredictable and irregular movements (often affecting the shoulders, hips, and face) which are due to permanent damage or malformation in an area of the brain known as the basal ganglia.
• Choreoathetosis — a type of cerebral palsy that results in a variety of muscle tone and involuntary movements of the limbs.
• Claim — your right to seek compensation for your losses following any injury that a person suffers. Claims can be settled between parties or can be litigated in court.
• Clonus — a form of muscle contraction and relaxation with involuntary, jerky calf muscle movements that can be seen in children with cerebral palsy when asked to place their toe on the floor without having their heels touch the ground.
• Cognition — the ability to process and understand the surrounding environment (thinking).
• Cognitive — neurological activities connected with the brain or any aspect of brain function. Cognitive impairment is usually a hot-ticket issue with people living with cerebral palsy, given the brain damage that they suffered, which preceded their condition. It may manifest in forgetfulness, erratic and unpredictable mood swings, sadness, depression, anxiety, and diminished social skills.
• Combat Crawling — crawling while on stomach and using mostly your arms to pull the rest of the body forward.
• Congenital Cerebral Palsy— a form of cerebral palsy resulting from birth injury or brain damage during pregnancy. Common causes of congenital cerebral palsy include lack of oxygen to the baby’s brain, Rh incompatibility, bleeding in the baby’s brain, and exposure to drugs and alcohol in the womb.
• Contingency Fee — attorneys who handle cerebral palsy birth injury cases operate on a contingency fee basis. Under this type of fee agreement, the plaintiff (victim) never pays their attorney out of pocket. If the case is successful, attorneys fees are taken out of the settlement amount. If the case is unsuccessful, the plaintiff walks away without owing a penny in attorneys fees.
• Contracture — the shortening of muscles due to a number of factors such as poor muscle development or an increase in muscle tone due to a brain injury. This causes limited range and movement, and is seen mostly in those that suffer from spastic cerebral palsy.
• Convulsion — involuntary contractions of the muscles due to abnormal electrical activity of the brain
• Corpus Callosum — a thick band of nerve fibers that connect the left brain with the right
• Cortical Blindness — total or partial blindness resulting from an injury to visual centers in the cerebral cortex. In this condition, the eyes function normally but the brain can not interpret or process the visual information.
• Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) — a form of visual impairment that is caused by a brain problem rather than an eye problem. (The latter is sometimes termed “ocular visual impairment” when discussed in contrast to cortical visual impairment.) Some people have both CVI and a form of ocular visual impairment.
• CT Scan — a “computed tomography” scan may be used to determine the cause of cerebral palsy in a child. This test scans the brain, looking for abnormalities and areas that have not properly developed.
• Cue — also known as a prompt. It is a visual, auditory or physical action that reminds a person to perform a behavior or activity.
• DAFO — dynamic AFO. A brand name for a flexible AFO.
• Debilitation — the act of becoming weaker.
• Debility — a state in which a person’s body can no longer perform daily functions with the same energy or efficiency that it used to.
• Decrepitude — describing weakness, the long-term effects of wear, or the state of weakening after an illness, age, or wear.
• Defendant — the negligent party (as opposed to the plaintiff [i.e., the victim]) in a legal claim such as a birth injury lawsuit. There may be many defendants, and they may have varying levels of blame or responsibility with regard to the negligent act.
• Developmental Delay — any delay in physical, cognitive (processing info/thinking), social, emotional, communication, or adaptive (self-help skills) development. It is typically used as a label under IDEA to qualify children between 3-9 for special education service. The percentage of delay to qualify for these services varies from state to state.
• Developmental Disability — an impairment of any developmental area, before age eighteen, that is expected to be substantial and continue indefinitely. Ex— autism, cerebral palsy, and delayed mental development.
• Developmental Milestone — age-categorized developmental goals based on typical growth and development. Ex— talking in simple sentences by age two, walking while holding onto a prop by 7 to 8 months, etc.
• Developmental Pediatrician — a pediatrician that specializes in developmental milestones and assessing normal or abnormal child development.
• Diazepam (Diastat) — a medicine inserted rectally to stop prolonged seizures. It is often given by parents at home when a seizure does not stop in a specific amount of time established between the physician and the parent. The medicine is otherwise known as valium.
• Differentiation — a discrimination between things as different and distinct.
• Diplegia — a condition in which a person is paralyzed on corresponding parts of the body; i.e., both arms or both legs. Also, a type of Cerebral Palsy that primarily produces spasticity of the legs.
• Disability — an umbrella term describing a condition that impacts a person’s ability to meet their day-to-day needs or perform at full capacity.
• Discretionary trust — a trust in which the trustee (the person responsible for governing the trust) has the authority to use or not use the funds for any purpose as long as it is used only for the beneficiary.
• DME  — stands for “durable medical equipment” which is supportive medical equipment used to improve the quality of life and independence of the user. Examples include wheelchairs, bathing chairs, standers, etc.
• Dorsal — the back of an object or person. In regard to cerebral palsy, dorsal may refer to a type of surgery (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy) where surgeons make incisions into the back and cut specific sensory nerve fibers near the spinal cord. This surgery is done to help improve a person’s range of movement.
• Dynamic Stander — a type of durable medical equipment that supports the user in a standing position but also has wheels that enable the user to move through space.
• Dysarthria — a speech disorder that is seen in children who have poor muscle tone, such as in those with cerebral palsy. It presents as poor word formation and pronunciation, slurred speech, slow speech and tone, as well as poor breathing.
• Dyskinesia — involuntary, abnormal, or uncontrolled movements that can either affect a single body part (such as the head or arm) or spread in a wave-like fashion to affect all facets of the body.
• Dystonia — slow, twisting, rhythmic movements.
• Early intervention — therapy and family instruction provided for children ages birth to three years old that is intended to minimize presentation of developmental delay.
• Early interventionist — a person who arranges for a therapist to come to the house or meet at the family at a facility for treatment, provides family training to have the family incorporate practical ideas to improve child’s development in-between therapy sessions, and arranges for bi-yearly and yearly assessments and IEP updates.
• EEG-Electroencephalograpm — a test that charts the level of electrical discharge from nerve cells in the brain. It is used to test for abnormal brain/seizure activity.
• Enfeeblement — the act of progressively growing physically weaker or to otherwise find one’s self deprived of strength.
• Epilepsy — a recurring condition where the brain produces abnormal electrical discharges that causes seizures. There is no known cure for epilepsy, but it can be treated and managed successfully with anti-seizure medication. Individuals with epilepsy may be prone to falling, so it is important that they are monitored closely at any given time.
• Equilibrium — a child’s sense or actual physical balance.
• Expressive language — verbal, written, or use of gestures to communicate.
• Extension — straightening the limbs or trunk.
• Feebleness — describing a person’s state of weakness.
• Febrile Seizures — a generalized tonic-clonic (or grand mal) seizure brought on by a sudden rise of body temperatures to 102 or higher. It is most common in children under age six. Duration is often less than five minutes.
• Feeding tube — a tube of soft plastic used in feeding for those who have difficulty getting enough nutrition through regular eating.
• Fine motor — using small muscle groups, such as face, hands, feet, fingers, toes. Fine motor skills include feeding, holding an object between thumb and forefinger (pincer grasp), turning/twisting, etc.
• Flexion — bending of joints.
• Floppy — loose movements and weak posture.
• Floppy Baby Syndrome — also referred to as hypotonia. Children with floppy baby syndrome have low muscle tone. Medical professionals must test a child for floppy baby syndrome at six months, though the condition can show up later in a baby’s development.
• Flexor — a muscle controlling the bending of joints.
• Frailness — physical weakness.
• Frailty — physical weakness or someone of a delicate nature.
• Froggy Legs — a casual or informal term for caudal regression syndrome. Babies suffer from misshaped or missing sections of the spinal cord that subsequently result in a gap in the vertebrae, underdeveloped leg bones, and knees that point to the side with feet drawn in toward the pelvis. Caudal regression syndrome also makes it more likely for the impacted child to develop scoliosis. 
• Gag reflex — a reflex that can often be extra sensitive with those with Cerebral Palsy, to the point where the child may gag or choke when something touches their tongue or palate. Over-sensitization of the oral reflexes are often addressed by occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, or physical therapists.
• Gait — a person’s manner of walking. In those with cerebral palsy, gait may be irregular due to stiff and/or shortened muscles or slow due to loss of muscle tone.
• Gait Analysis — a study of body movements, body mechanics, and the activity of the muscles.
• Gait Trainer — a device that acts like a walker but with supports to stabilize the hips and ankles to encourage good posture and placement of feet and legs while walking.
• Genetics — the study of genes and heredity.
• Gross motor — using large muscle groups, such as legs, arms, and abdomen. Gross motor skills include transitioning between postures, standing, walking, running, jumping, etc.
• Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) — This is a system that seeks to categorize the fine motor skills displayed by a newborn child. The GMFCS has 5 levels of severity.
• Habilitation — teaching new skills to those with developmental delays.
• Handicapped — broad category for having any type of disability, such as sensory impairments, behavioral disorders, mental disorders, physical impairments, or multiple handicaps.
• Head control — the ability to control movement of the head.
• Hemiplegia — a type of cerebral palsy resulting in the paralysis of one side of the affected person’s body.
• Hemorrhage — any form of uncontrolled internal bleeding. The cavities between biological tissue are supposed to remain clear, but blood vessel trauma can lead to unintended blood flow into these spaces. Hemorrhages may cause irreversible brain damage that can lead to cognitive and motor function complications.
• High tone — tightness, or spasticity, of the muscles.
• Hip Dysplasia — a congenital or acquired deformation or misalignment of the hip joint
• Hip Dislocation — a common injury in which the ball-shaped head of femur comes out of the cup-shaped acetabulum set in the pelvis.
• Hippotherapy — also called equine therapy. the use of horseback riding to improve a child’s muscle movements and range of motion. This is a form of therapeutic play involving equine animals such as horses or ponies. Unlike basic horseback riding, hippotherapy uses the movement of the horse in order to effect neuromuscular development by having the child adhere to or match the horse’s rhythm, tempo, gait, and repetition. If done for a sustained amount of time, it can improve endurance, control, strength, coordination, balance, and visual cues. Additional resources can be found on the American Hippotherapy Association website.
• Hydrocephalus — a blockage of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid that increases pressure in the ventricles of the brain. Can cause brain damage. Often relieved by surgical insertion of a tube called a shunt to drain the fluid.
• Hyperplasia — excessive growth of tissue.
• Hypertonia — also referred to as high tone. This refers to a form of cerebral palsy that manifests in stiff muscle tone. Individuals with hypertonic CP usually have outstretched or awkwardly bent limbs due to excessive muscle tone caused by the mix-up of neural messages from the brain. This condition can make it difficult to impossible for individuals to clench their fist, walk and bend their knees, as well as have a good amount of balance while standing or walking.
• Hypotonia — also known as low tone. This refers to the lack of muscle tone seen in children who develop a certain type of cerebral palsy. Children who have hypotonic cerebral palsy exhibit decreased muscle tone to the point where they appear “floppy” and may have difficulty holding their hands up, standing, and/or walking in coordinated movements.
• Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) — an umbrella term describing injuries stemming from a baby’s asphyxia before or during birth. This is a type of brain damage in newborns caused by a lack of oxygen reaching the brain, compounded by low blood flow to vital organs. It causes tissue death and may result in irreversible brain damage.
• IDEA — Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. A federal law passed in 1975 to ensure that children with disabilities have a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. Free and appropriate education means that every part of the special education program is provided by public funds or, if there is no suitable public program available, the school district will pay the cost for the child to attend a private program that addresses the necessary services. Keep in mind that it does not provide for educational services that are not approved by the school district or governing agency. Least restrictive environment (LRE) involves having the child with special needs be included in an age typical classroom as much as their disability will allow them. This can range from being fully involved in the classroom with extra time allowances or an aide, having a limited amount of time in the classroom with the rest of their education taking place in a special needs class, or a self-contained class with no time in a typical classroom other than school activities (gym, lunch, assemblies, music, recess, etc.). Which LRE is most suitable for your child is often determined at the IEP meeting.
• IEP — Individualized Education Program. Once the child is determined to be eligible for services by the school district (can be as early as age three), a written plan is developed by involved therapists, school professionals, and the parents to create learning goals and determine how the school district will provide for them. An IEP is reviewed once a year; however, the parent can also initiate an IEP meeting besides the annual required meeting, if they feel that their child’s goals should be changed or aren’t being addressed properly.
• Infirmity — weakness of the body brought about by illness or age.
• IFSP — Individualized Family Service Plan. Pertains to children three and younger. Usually set up by an early interventionist (EI). The family and the EI discuss areas of development that the child needs improvement on, set goals, and lists different methods to work on improving those areas. It is updated at least every six months.
• Impairment — the development of a weakness of disability.
• Inclusion — being included or involved in a typical classroom as much as the child’s disability will allow (see also least restrictive environment under IDEA).
• Incontinence — lack of control of bladder or bowel movements.
• Intention Tremors— as a person with ataxic cerebral palsy reaches for an object or attempts to perform an act (such as putting on a shoe), the body part that he or she is moving may begin to tremble. Intention tremors become stronger as the person reaches the object.
• Interdisciplinary team — a team of professionals from varying fields (teachers, therapists, doctors) who evaluate a child and then develop a summary of the child’s abilities, progress, and needs in each of their areas of expertise to get a total picture of each area of the child’s life.
• Intracerebral — within the brain.
• Intracranial — within the skull.
• Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy — a treatment for muscle spasticity. A small pump is inserted under the skin to release small amounts of the medication, baclofen, into the spinal fluid.
• Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH) — bleeding into structures found in the brain known as ventricles. These are usually grooves found within brain tissue, and an intraventricular hemorrhage can kill off brain cells that are needed for the transmission of impulses that tell limbs to move in a certain way. This kind of bleeding can occur in arteries or veins, with the former being much harder to stem or control.
• In utero — “in a womb,” but can also be used to refer to the state of a fetus or embryo. Children born with cerebral palsy may have developed the condition while still in the womb by way of an infection, or on their way out of the womb due to things like hypoxia or the use of excessive force during delivery.
• Involuntary movements — uncontrolled movements.
• Jaundice — the yellowing of the skin and the eyes due to the buildup of bile metabolites (known as bilirubin) in one’s blood. Jaundice may be due to an infection, a blood disorder, or certain medication. In addition, it may be caused by birth injury, causing the blood to release this compound in dangerous amounts.
• KAFO — (Knee Ankle Foot Orthoses) a long plastic leg brace, which supports the whole leg, and hinges at the knee.
• Kernicterus — a brain disorder that occurs when jaundice is not treated quickly enough. It literally means “yellow kernel,” a reference to the yellow staining of brain tissue that is seen in children with the condition. It is usually diagnosed shortly after a baby develops jaundice, and it is usually caused by the buildup of a chemical known as bilirubin. Kernicterus has been shown to lead to intellectual disabilities, vision problems, the yellowing of teeth, as well as hearing problems.
• Klumpke’s Palsy — a type of paralysis (usually temporary) resulting from a birth injury involving the brachial plexus nerves. It usually develops due to a stretching injury such as in the case of doctors using clamps to pull the baby out of the womb or odd positioning of an arm during labor. It occurs in around 4 in every 1,000 births, and may resolve before the baby reaches its second birthday.
• Learned Helplessness — a psychological term used to describe people who have been in a situation where they cannot help themselves for a long amount of time or who have been told repeatedly they can’t do something. These people develop an attitude of helplessness that extends past the initial situation and instead of trying to do or learn a new skill later on in life, immediately give up because they assume they aren’t able to perform the task.
• Lameness — loss of mobility or increased difficulty moving as a result of a physical injury or illness.
• Lawsuit — a legal complaint that has progressed to litigation. Cerebral Palsy lawsuits may be resolved via settlement negotiations, through mediation, or by being heard by a judge and jury.
• Learning disability — a child with normal intelligence who has difficulty processing certain types of information.
• Least restrictive environment — allowing a special needs child to be made part of a regular school to the fullest extent possible.
• Liability — a legal term that essentially translates to fault, or more-accurately, responsibility. Liability can be assigned to multiple parties, often by assigning a percentage of fault to each party.
• Low tone — decreased muscle tone.
• Lower extremities — legs.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) — This is imaging technology which uses giant magnets, through which currents pass, in order to create a computerized image of what’s going on inside a person’s body.
• Mainstreaming — incorporating a child with special needs into a typical classroom (see also inclusion).
• Malpractice — the improper, illegal, or negligent professional activity or treatment (see medical malpractice).
• Medicaid — a state and federal program that offers medical assistance for those eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• Mental retardation — a child who, before eighteen, has below average intellectual functioning and self-help behavior.
• Midline — an imaginary reference line separating the right side of the body from the left. Most often used in doctor’s and therapy notes.
• Mixed Cerebral Palsy— about 20 percent of those with cerebral palsy show some mix between spastic, ataxic, and athetoid cerebral palsy.
• Mobility — the ability to move with ease.
• Monoplegia — a type of cerebral palsy where only one limb is affected. Monoplegia is considered to be a relatively-mild form of cerebral palsy with an excellent prognosis going forward.
• Motility — a person’s capacity for movement.
• Motor — ability to move one’s self.
• Motor delay — slower development of movement skills.
• Motor patterns — the way body and limbs work to make a sequenced movement, such as crawling.
• Motor planning — the ability to think through and carry out a physical task.
• MRI — Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Use of electromagnetic forces to make an image of the inside of a body.
• MRI Scan— Magnetic Resonance Imaging may be used when determining the cause of cerebral palsy. A doctor may use an MRI scan to pick up abnormalities in the brain that are not visible on a CT scan.
• Muscle tone — the amount of resistance or tension to a movement in a muscle.
• Multi-handicapped — having more than one disability.
• Multiple Sclerosis — a disease of the spinal cord and brain that sees the immune system protect the myelin protecting a person’s nerve fibers.
• NAEYC — The National Association for the Education of Young Children
• Necrotizing Enterocolitis — This is a disease that causes the death of intestinal tissue in babies that are born prematurely. Necrotizing enterocolitis presents as colon inflammation, bloating, and the vomiting of bile, and is thought to be due to the invasion of certain bacteria that cause a localized infection.
• Negligence — Negligence can be thought of as someone’s failure to use reasonable care, and frequently results in injury or other damages.
• Neonatal — This is a term that is used to refer to the first month after the birth of a child. During this period, children must receive appropriate and specialized care to prevent potentially life-threatening health complications.
• Neurologist — a physician who specializes in disorders of the nervous system.
• Neuromotor — involving the nerves and muscles.
• Neuroplasticity — the ability of the brain to rewire itself to compensate for faulty neural pathways that have become obsolete due to injury, infection, or genetic causes. It is seen as brain matter growth, the growth of blood vessels in a particular region, as well as the proliferation of cells within a certain area of the brain.
• Neurotransmitter — chemical substances in the brain that are used between nerve cells to carry, or transmit, signals from one nerve to another.
• Neurosurgeon — doctors specialized in the surgical treatment of neurological diseases.
• NICHCY — National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. A central source of information on children with disabilities.
• NICU — Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. A unit in the hospital designed to care for premature babies or babies born with urgent medical conditions.
• Nuchal Cord — the wrapping of the umbilical cord around a fetus’ neck in utero. Nuchal cords can be deadly as they can occur during delivery, potentially cutting off vital blood and oxygen supply, leading to fetal distress and brain cell death.
• Nutritionist — a person who advises on matters of food and nutrition impacts on health.
• Occupational therapist (OT) — therapists that help children and adults participate in the things they want and need through the use of everyday activities.
• Optometrist — a doctor of optometry who studies and treats disorders of the eyes, vision, and surrounding tissues.
• Orthopedic — relating to the joints, ligaments, bones, and muscles.
• Orthopedic Specialist — Focuses on the bones, muscles, and joints of the cerebral palsy patient. Therapy and treatment will be directed toward preventing atrophy or contracture of muscle tissue and increasing the patient’s ability to use his or her motor skills.
• Orthopedist vs. Podiatrist — an orthopedist is a doctor who specializes in preventing or correcting problems related to the joints, ligaments, bones and muscles, whereas a podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in preventing or correcting problems related to the feet.
• Orthotics — lightweight devices that provide stability at the joints or passively stretch the muscles. Can be made of plastic, metal, or leather.
• Orthotist — a specialized professional who creates, measures, and fits orthotics.
• Osteotomy — an operation to cut and realign the bones. Ex— to change the angles of the femoral bone and the hip joint.
• Palsy — an umbrella term for paralysis describing either full paralysis, partial paralysis, loss of sensation, uncontrollable movement, and unsteadiness or shaking.
• Paralysis — the inability to move a muscle or muscle groups due to muscle function loss. Individuals experiencing paralysis may be unable to control muscle movement, and may also suffer loss of feeling.
• Paraplegia — the inability to move some of one’s limbs; synonymous with partial paralysis.
• Parent Advocate —a parent with knowledge and/or training about special education law and who provides advocacy support to fellow parents facing obstacles obtaining an education and related accommodations for his/her child.
• Parent-to-parent Organization —an organization staffed by parents who provide support and resources to other parents facing similar challenges raising their children.
• Paresis — partial paralysis.
• Perinatal — the weeks leading up to (and after) birth. This can be anywhere from the 20th to the 28th week before the baby’s delivery, and up to a month after birth.
• Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) — brain trauma most often seen in premature babies. Babies diagnosed with PVL suffer injuries to their brain’s white matter, which protects the brain’s ventricles. PVL weakens a child’s motor control and reduces their overall strength.
• Pervasive Developmental Delays (PDD) — another name for autism and autism spectrum disorders describing the delayed development of a child’s communicative and social skills.
• Petit mal seizures — see absence seizures.
• Physical therapist (PT) — a therapist who assesses and treats problems relating to gross motor skills, such as sitting up without support, crawling, walking, etc.
• Physiatrist: Rehabilitation Doctor — a nerve, muscle and bone expert who treat injuries or illnesses that affect how you move.
• Placenta previa — a condition that causes the placenta to cover the opening of the mother’s cervix, making it difficult or impossible for the baby to pass through the cervix and into the birth canal during delivery.
• Placental abruption — the detachment of the placenta from the uterine wall during labor. This type of injury usually leads to the baby being deprived of oxygen-rich blood, which may lead to brain damage.
• Plaintiff — the person bringing forth a claim (i.e., the person who was injured by the negligent actions of the defendant).
• Poliomyelitis — the full name for polio, a paralytic condition that can result in the full and untreatable paralysis of infected children under the age of five.
• Pommel — a support between the legs.
• Posture — positioning or alignment of the body.
• Pragmatics — understanding how and why language is used.
• Preeclampsia — This is a condition that affects some women after the 20th week of pregnancy, characterized by high blood pressure as well as swelling of the hands and feet. If left unchecked, preeclampsia may lead to kidney or liver damage, as well as health risks to the unborn child.
• Primitive reflexes — early patterns of movement in a child that usually disappear after about six months of age.
• Prognosis — This is a medical term which attempts to provide an expectation on the foreseeable course and scope of a disease or medical condition.
• Progressive Disease— Cerebral palsy is not a progressive disease. That is, it does not get worse over time. Different symptoms, however, may become apparent as the child ages.
• Quadriplegia — the inability to move any of one’s limbs; synonymous with total paralysis. A type of cerebral palsy.
• Range of Motion (ROM) — the degree of motion present at a joint.
• Reasonable Accommodation — efforts made to remove obstacles that prevent handicapped accessibility but don’t result in an unreasonable financial burden, such as providing a ramp to the entrance of a building.
• Receptive Language — the ability to understand what is written or being said.
• Reflex — an involuntary movement in response to stimulation such as touch, pressure or joint movement.
• Reinforcement — providing a pleasant consequence (such as getting to do favorite activity or eating favorite food) or removing an unpleasant consequence (such as a chore or a punishment that was in place) after a behavior in order to increase or maintain that behavior.
• Respite Care — publicly funded skilled care and supervision of a person with disabilities in the family’s or caregiver’s home. It is usually available for several hours per week or for overnight stay.
• Rh Incompatibility — the differences in blood Rh type between the mother and the baby. This may cause hemolytic disease in a newborn (also known as Rh disease) which may cause anemia or the death of the child shortly after birth if severe.
• Rhizotomy, Selective Dorsal — a neurosurgical procedure involving cutting nerves in the spine to reduce tightness in muscle groups.
• Rigidity — extremely high muscle tone in any position with very limited movements.
• Scissoring — crossing of the legs together when standing, being held upright, or walking.
• Scoliosis — curvature of the spine.
• Seizure — abnormal bursts of electricity in the brain resulting in changes in behavior, consciousness, and involuntary movement. They can be categorized as partial or generalized. A partial seizure only affects one area or one side of the brain. Several different types of partial seizures include— Focal Motor (simple partial), Sensory, Autonomic, and Psychomotor (temporal lobe) Seizures. Generalized seizures are where both sides of the brain are affected. Several different types of generalized seizures are— Absence (petit mal), Tonic-Clonic (grand mal), Infantile Myoclonic (infantile or jackknife), Febrile, and Atonic (Akinetic) Seizures.
• Seizures— a person having a seizure may abruptly “freeze,” fall and shake violently, or simply fall down. Seizures affect about half of all people with cerebral palsy but are usually not harmful.
• Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy — a type of surgery that involves the severing of nerves found in the lower or upper back in order to improve an individual’s mobility. It is the most-studied surgery as far as pediatric CP surgeries go.
• SEMLARASS — a surgery that is performed to enhance range of motion and better limb control in children with cerebral palsy. SEMLARASS stands for Single Event Multilevel Lever Arm Restoration and Anti Spasticity Surgery, and is generally performed before a child is over the age of 12.
• Sensation — the ability to process the world via smell, touch, sound, taste, and sight.
• Sensory Integration  — the process through which the brain processes a body’s sensations and environment. Sensory integration makes it easier for a person to determine how best to react to their environment. 
• Serial Casting — a procedure that is performed to help children and adults living with movement disorders such as cerebral palsy improve their movement range as well as flexibility and strength. Serial casting uses a number of casts that, over time, stretch and pull an individual’s contracted muscles/tendons in a gradual manner.
• Service Coordinator — a professional who arranges services for a person with special needs. These services can be medical, therapeutic, educational, material goods, or even social in nature. The service coordinator usually does not provide these resources themselves but connects the client with an organization or person that does. Most typically associated with early intervention but other organizations provide service coordination as well.
• Shunt — a device used to drain excess spinal fluid from the brain for those with hydrocephalus
• Side sitting — sitting with both knees bent and to one side of the body
• SMO: Supra-Malleolar Orthosis — brace above the ankle bone
• Spastic — having stiff muscles that impede movement.
• Special Education — specialized instruction based on educational disabilities determined by a team evaluation. It must be relevant to their educational needs and adapted to the child’s learning style.
• Spastic Cerebral Palsy— a form of cerebral palsy that causes tightness in the muscles. Because of this tightness, spastic cerebral palsy patients have a difficult time controlling their movement. Their motions may be abrupt and jerky. Spastic cerebral palsy is seen (to some degree) in 80 percent of cerebral palsy cases.
• Spastic Diplegia— a form of spastic cerebral palsy that affects muscle control in both of the arms or legs.
• Spastic Hemiplegia — a form of spastic cerebral palsy that affects muscle control on one side of the body. The right arm and leg or left arm and leg will be affected.
• Spastic Monoplegia — a form of spastic cerebral palsy that affects only one limb. This form of spastic cerebral palsy is rare.
• Spastic Paralysis — a condition resulting in the loss of control of a limb or limbs. The impacted party’s limbs may still move, but that movement may not be under the impacted party’s control.
• Spastic Quadriplegia — a form of spastic cerebral palsy that affects both the arms and the legs of a patient.
• Spastic Triplegia — a form of spastic cerebral palsy that affects three of the limbs. This form of spastic cerebral palsy, like spastic monoplegia, is quite rare.
• Special Needs — needs generated by a person’s disability.
• SSDI or Social Security Disability Insurance — money that has been paid into the Social Security system through payroll deduction on earnings. These benefits can be paid to people who have become disabled before the age of 22, who can collect under a parents account if the parent is retired, disabled, or deceased, and disabled workers.
• SSI or Supplemental Security Income — funds available for the elderly or those with disabilities with low income. Eligibility is determined by financial need, not on past earnings.
• Stem Cell Therapy — a treatment that involves the harvesting, culturing, and eventual reintroduction of specialized stem cells which can grow into any organ or biological agent under the right condition. Scientists and doctors are looking into stem cell therapy to help regrow new cells in areas of the brain where individuals with cerebral palsy have suffered some kind of trauma or infection, leading to the development of their condition.
• Strabismus — a condition that causes both eyes to look in different directions. It is thought to be caused by poor eye muscle control, a phenomenon that is often seen in children born with cerebral palsy. Children who develop this condition may need to wear an eye patch to train the weak eye’s muscles to work more efficiently.
• Subluxation — partial dislocation of any joint, i.e., when the ball joint that connects with the hip socket slowly pulls partially out of position.
• Tetraplegia — a form of cerebral palsy that results in partial or complete loss of function of all limbs, but less so with the head or neck.
• Tremor —  uncontrolled shaking of a body part or parts. Tremors are typically seen in those with ataxic cerebral palsy, and affected individuals may find it hard to perform activities such as tying their shoelaces or holding a spoon.
• Ultrasound — a form of medical imaging that uses sound waves moving at a high frequency to transmit live images from within a person’s body. In medical lingo, an ultrasound is also called sonography and comes from radar or sonar technology. One advantage of an ultrasound is that it does not use radiation, making it safe for pregnant women wanting to see the development of their baby in the womb.
• Unilateral — one-sided.
• Uterine rupture — the tearing of uterine tissue, causing its contents to spill out into the body. This is a dangerous complication that can lead to blood loss as well as birth complications where the baby doesn’t receive sufficient oxygen for the duration of the delivery.
• Weakness — lacking in strength or mobility.
• White matter — a part of the brain that consists of myelinated nerve fibers, which are usually white in color. White matter is responsible for information processing, the transmission of nerve impulses, as well as the regulation of axonal nerve signals. White matter lesions or cell death leads to behavioral and neurological issues such as the development of cerebral palsy.